Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Twenty One

For the next two weeks after telling Elias I had never been in a relationship and never been pampered, his whole attitude seemed to have taken a change. It was both nice and a huge pain in the ass. He wouldn’t let me do anything. He showed up early in the morning and brought me breakfast in bed, he rubbed my feet and brought me flowers. What the hell happened to the jackass I knew? I was kind of starting to miss the d**k version of Elias. This whole new attentive, sweet version of him scared me. And that’s saying something compared to how he used to be. 

Lance and Mathias had a very good time laughing at me the whole time. They also had fun watching as Elias changed over the past two weeks. I had to admit I was getting to know Elias better though. For example he enjoyed vehicles, mostly cars and motorcycles. He did not like photography and was only in that class because of me. He didn’t drink human blood, only animal blood. Surprise, surprise, his favorite color is black, not that I haven’t noticed that already from his wardrobe. 

I was becoming more nervous as my birthday became closer. I was still terrified of shifting. Not about the wolf part, I was totally fine with that and excited. It was the pain part that was scaring the hell out of me. Pain never really bothered me, but the amount of pain that shifting would put me through? I couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. Now the vampire part didn’t bother me. According to Elias the only pain involved in that was my caines descending. I was okay with that, I could handle that. But every bone in my body breaking? Yeah, no. totally not ready for that.

“Elias, can we stop this now please?” I chuckled, “I’d like to do something. I need to do something. I can’t stop thinking about the shift, and the pain.” I cringed. 

“You’ll be fine.” Ellias said firmly, his eyes flaring. “I know it’ll hurt, but I’ll be with you, we all will.” He said squeezing my hand. 

“I know.” I smiled returning his gesture. “But it will still hurt, all of you being there won’t change that.” 

“No, maybe not. But if your vampire side comes first the pain will be dulled a little.” He said trying to make me feel a little better. 

“Lucky me.” I laughed, standing from my seated position on the couch. 

“What would you like to do Uwoduhi?” Lance asked, kissing my temple gently. 

“I don’t know. Something, anything.” I pleaded. 

“You think you’re up to go to town?” Mathias asked with a smile. 

I growled. “As long as no one touches any of you, yes.” 

“Go get dressed then.” Lance laughed. “And do not worry, we will make sure no one touches us. And I think you sent a pretty clear message about that last time anyway.” 

“Good.” I snarled under my breath as I headed up the stairs. 

I knew it wasn’t logical, and it didn’t make sense. I knew it made things and would make things harder on me and on them when the time comes for me to choose, but what was I supposed to do? I was excessively possessive of all of them. I couldn’t even stand the thought of anyone else touching them without anger boiling my blood. 

And honestly? It hurt. God did it hurt. I didn’t ever mention it to any of them, what difference would it make if I did? It would just make their pain worse and I didn’t want to do that. The last thing I wanted was to put them through more pain than they were already in. And in a year? Well in a year we would all be in pain, but two of them so much more than me. 

I growled, the sound rumbling through my chest as I thought about the fates again. I still wanted nothing more than to squeeze the life out of them with my bare hands. I don’t care that they decided people’s future, mine included. I wanted them dead. At least then people would have control of their own future, my three men included. Mine. I just said mine, and three. Not two but three. Did I really already include Elias as mine? After everything? 

I shook my head of the thought for now, filing into the think about later category of my mind. It wasn’t something I could concentrate on right now anyway. I was antsy and restless. I kind of felt like I was about to crawl out of my skin. I needed to move, needed to do something, I didn’t care what. I’ve never felt like this, never felt so, crawly for lack of a better term. It felt wrong. 

Finally dressed I ran down the stairs, needing to get out. They all looked at me like I was insane, or maybe they cast me a worried glance I didn’t know, didn't’ care. Couldn’t care. 

“Nicole, wait.” Mathias shouted, running after me. “What’s going on?”

I turned bouncing on the balls of my feet, my hands twisting and fidgeting in front of me as I looked back into his beautiful green eyes I loved so much. The life had come back to them since he found me. The shine was back as he looked at me even if they were full of concern right now. 

“I don’t know.” I mumbled, pulling my lip between my teeth. “Something feels off, feels wrong. I’m jittery and nervous. I feel like I’m about to crawl out of my skin. I’m restless, I just. I just need to move.” I stammered, starting to pace back and forth. 

“Nicole.” Lance said coming up to me and holding me still by my shoulders. “Are you sure your birthday is in two weeks?” He asked, his brown eyes flaring gold. 

“Yes, of course I’m sure.” I said irritably, shrugging him off and continuing my pacing. 

“Ugh!” I groaned, rubbing my jaw as I paced. What the hell was going on with me? 

“Nicole? Why are you rubbing your jaw?” Elias asked. 

I growled harshly at him. “I thought I needed a massage.” I spat at him. “Why do you think? The damn thing hurts. Can we go now?” I seethed, my anger growing, though I had no idea why. Why was I so mad at them?

“I’m sorry.” I groaned, throwing my head back. “I don’t know what’s happening.” 

“We do.” Lance said, stepping towards me. “You are starting your change early. I’ve never heard of anyone shifting early, but you are.” 

“No. I can’t be.” I said, shaking my head. “No, I’m not supposed to shift for another two weeks. I’m not ready, I don’t want to yet.” 

“Nicole, I know you’re scared, but listen to me. This is happening whether you like it or not. You are going to feel antsy and restless and you are going to feel like bugs are crawling all over you while you also want to jump out of your own skin. It’s not comfortable, but don’t fight it. If you fight it, it will only hurt worse.” Lance told me firmly. 

“Why does everything hurt?” I moaned. “My mouth, my back.” I rolled my shoulders trying to ease the throbbing in my back, but it didn't work, it only seemed to make it worse. 

“Your mouth is normal.” Elias said with his brows furrowed. “It is from where your fangs are going to descend. But your back? I have no idea. Lance? Mathias?” He asked.

They both shook their head making me roll my eyes and growled, my pacing turning to stomping as I walked back and forth between the guys. I knew they wouldn’t leave, they were all going to stay and make sure I was okay. But at the moment I didn’t know if I wanted them here. No, that’s not it, I wanted them here. I felt like something was missing, like I needed something else. What else could I possibly need to shift other than myself and my mates? It was my damn body that was going to break and reshape. It was my body that was going to turn into a wolf and again into a vampire. So what was missing? I couldn’t understand it, it didn’t make any sense. Ugh! I need answers, can someone just give me answers? I begged. 

A loud clap of thunder echoed through the trees. I winced, covering my ears with my hands and ducked my head to cover myself just in case of another weird weather mishap. I guess I just got my answer.